Born in Trinidad but raised in Newcastle, Don has been a regular on British TV screens since the 1970s. HIs credits include Rising Damp and Death in Paradise. He studied at the Harris College before it became UCLan before going on to studying acting at the Drama Centre London.Born in Trinidad but raised in Newcastle, Don has been a regular on British TV screens since the 1970s. HIs credits include Rising Damp and Death in Paradise. He studied at the Harris College before it became UCLan before going on to studying acting at the Drama Centre London.
Born in Trinidad but raised in Newcastle, Don has been a regular on British TV screens since the 1970s. HIs credits include Rising Damp and Death in Paradise. He studied at the Harris College before it became UCLan before going on to studying acting at the Drama Centre London.

Here’s 10 famous people who you may not have known had studied at UCLan

By Andy Moffatt
Published 8th Jun 2022, 13:56 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2022, 15:41 BST
UCLan is one of the North West’s top ranked universities, with a wide range of subjects on offer.

Boasting the 19th largest student population, it is safe to say that many of its alumni have gone on to do great things in British public life, from artists to actors; journalists and sports stars.

Here we run down some of the famous faces who studied at the Preston campus.

Born in Ramsbottom, Lancashire, Victoria is one of the country’s best known journalists. Her career started when she studied broadcast journalism at UCLan and she has gone on to present Panorama, Newsnight and the Victoria Derbyshire Show. In between, the mum-of-two even managed to find time for a spell on I’m A Celebrity!

5. Victoria Derbyshire

Born in Ramsbottom, Lancashire, Victoria is one of the country’s best known journalists. Her career started when she studied broadcast journalism at UCLan and she has gone on to present Panorama, Newsnight and the Victoria Derbyshire Show. In between, the mum-of-two even managed to find time for a spell on I’m A Celebrity! Photo: Yui Mok

Photo Sales
Controversy has followed the ex-Ukip leader throughout much of his political career. He was a member of Tranmere Rovers youth squad but got himself into hot water over claims he played for the senior team. He studied at Edge Hill and Liverpool Hope University before receiving a Certificate of Education from UCLan.

6. Paul Nuttall

Controversy has followed the ex-Ukip leader throughout much of his political career. He was a member of Tranmere Rovers youth squad but got himself into hot water over claims he played for the senior team. He studied at Edge Hill and Liverpool Hope University before receiving a Certificate of Education from UCLan. Photo: Victoria Jones

Photo Sales
The ex-Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers winger racked up 500-plus first team appearance and two England caps during a glittering 16-year football career. But after hanging up his boots in 2001, Ripley decided he needed a freshed challenge. He first worked as a sports physio before enrolling at UCLan, where he graduated with a first-class combined degree in Law and French. He went on to qualify as a solicitor.

7. Stuart Ripley

The ex-Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers winger racked up 500-plus first team appearance and two England caps during a glittering 16-year football career. But after hanging up his boots in 2001, Ripley decided he needed a freshed challenge. He first worked as a sports physio before enrolling at UCLan, where he graduated with a first-class combined degree in Law and French. He went on to qualify as a solicitor. Photo: Donna Clifford

Photo Sales
Author and polemist, Reni’s best-selling work centres around feminism and strucural racism. She grew up in London but her time at UCLan studying English literature was instrumental in her finding her voice. It was Preston where she became involved in feminist activism and 2010 student protests. And in 2011 she became president of UCLan’s student union. Her 2017 book, Why I No Longer Talk to White People about Race was a best-seller.

8. Reni Eddo-Lodge

Author and polemist, Reni’s best-selling work centres around feminism and strucural racism. She grew up in London but her time at UCLan studying English literature was instrumental in her finding her voice. It was Preston where she became involved in feminist activism and 2010 student protests. And in 2011 she became president of UCLan’s student union. Her 2017 book, Why I No Longer Talk to White People about Race was a best-seller. Photo: David Hurst

Photo Sales
Previous
2 / 3
Next Page
Related topics:North WestPreston